NaturalSugars

Alternatives To White Refined Processed Sugars​

This sums up how I started to feel everyday. If I didn't get my fix of sugar I was irritable, cranky and just really difficult to be around. When I cut white sugar out of my life I couldn't believe how much weight I lost in a month. The change in my hair, nails and skin was obvious. I'm mainly using honey and other sweeteners embracing and enjoying the different flavours of sweetness. Figuring out what works best for baking, cooking, coffee and tea.

I loooooooooooooove everything sweet!!!! Candy, cakes, cookies, brownies I could go on and on. The only thing is my love became my addicition; a sugar addiction. Sugar addiction is one of the biggest problems of this society. So you say you don't eat much sugary things. Most processed foods convert into sugar inside the body. So I have decided to cut my sugar intake back 1st by banning white sugar from my household and finding healthier alternatives. This is what I came up with.

Steviaoriginates from South America has zero calories and no glycemic effect considered perfect for people who have diabetes. Its extremely sweet (actually 300 x's sweeter than sugar) so a little goes a long way. Even though stevia has many great qualities use caution. This sweetener interacts badly with Lithium preventing the body from removing it from its system, it lowers blood pressure and does not go well with blood pressure medication. ragweed allergy suffers want to avoid stevia due to allergic reactions.

Coconut Sugar slightly pricey but so worth it. Coconut sugar is packed with good things for the body Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, antioxidants, fatty acids and polyphenols. Usually sugar is empty calories but coconut sugar is truly a star for so many reasons. it slows glucose absorption and adds nutrition to food. Be careful when purchasing coconut sugar sometimes its mixed with fillers or other products to push up the weight of the packaged product. Coconut sugar is made from the sap of the palm, extracted, boiled and then dehydrated. Its light brown in colour and tastes similar to brown sugar.

The Power Of Neem

Agave Nectar once the star of sugar alternatives now has negative reports and with many health professionals snubbing their noses at it. Agave nectar comes from the sap of the Blue Agave plant looks similar to a pineapple with spikes. it is processed under low heat which produces a syrup similar to honey in appearance but not in taste. If you don't like honey you might find agave more tasteful. The nectar is not a natural sweetener and contains high levels of fructose which is not what you want if you're, trying to lose weight.

Brown Rice Syrup Vegan & Gluten free sugar substitute made from brown rice and considered a healthy alternative to sugar. Most brown sugar syrups are organic but highly processed meaning it is full of calories. when baking or cooking with it the ration is 1 and 1/4 cup of brown rice syrup to 1 cup of sugar. Great alternative to corn syrup because it has that gooey texture similar to honey but very, very sweet. Recently there have been reports (CBC News Report) of arsenic found in products containing brown rice syrup but Health Canada has not set off any warning bells. To this date brown rice syrup is still considered a safe choice but not as popular anymore.

Honey ismade by bees and heavily consumed by humans. The bees collect the nectar from the flowers and create honey by regurgitation and evaporation. Honey has many healing properties full of flavonoids and antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer. gastrointestinal ulcers, burns , amazing treatment of whiteheads and blackheads. If using honey for your family always make sure you purchase pasteurizedespecially for small children.

Molassesmade from sugar cane, beets, pomegranates, carob, dates and mulberries. It contains vitamins and minerals and considered a healthy choice compared to other sweeteners. Molasses are made by crushing or mashing the sugar cane to extract the juice which is then boiled to concentrate. There are many different grades and levels of molasses some contain additives; so read the labels to make sure your getting the real thing.

Natural Brown Sugarhas many names muscovado, demerara, turbinado, raw sugar and whole cane sugar. These types are basically levels of unrefined sugar that contain more or less molasses. Many people claim brown sugar has medicinal benefits but there are no scientific studies to back those claims.

Yacon Syrupis an extract from the yacon plants root found in the Andes mountains. It is considered to be an antidiabetic contains nutritional properties also used for renal and digestive issues. Studies have shown that using yacon syrup on a daily basis produces significant weight loss and now it's touted as the new super sweetener. The process of extracting the sweetness is similar to maple syrup.

Maple Syrupis the sap collected from maple trees boiled down into a syrup without the use of any additives or chemicals for preservation. When boiled for longer the sap can be made into maple sugar, maple butter, taffy and candy. Mineral and beneficial health effects are low and is equivalent to sugar in calories.

Dates (Dates Paste) easily made at home by cooking on low in water or raw and blending with a food processor. Economical and nutritious this paste is great for constipation and weight loss. Dates are full of mineral like magnesium, calcium and iron. Also packed with vitamins A, K, thiamin, niacin, vitamin b6, pantothenic acid, choline, betaine, proteins and amino acids. Great sweetener for baking cakes, muffins, brownies, and cookies.

DOCUMENTARIES

Barley Malt SyrupSimilar to molasses in texture, this syrup has an undeniable, malty taste. Used in bread making and home brewing because of its low glycemic level. Easily digested but not very sweet. Not very nutritional and carries some empty calories.

Sorghum Syrupthe Sorghum plant originates from Africa and is a major sweeter for that region. The the syrup is extracted by crushing the stalks and boiling its juice. It is 100% natural with a higher calorie count than most syrups. Sorghum has a mild flavour and is often used with pancake, waffles, porridges and baking. The benefit of using Sorghum is the nutritional value which contains calcium, vitamin b6, iron , riboflavin, magnesium, zinc, potassium and it contains no additives or chemicals.

If you still don't want to kick the white sugar habit here's some scary truths that might make you think twice.

Sugar causes behavior problems in children

Sugar causes anxiety, inability to concentrate and function in children and adults

Sugar feeds tumors and cancer cells

Sugar Suppresses your immune system

Just a few more reasons why you would want to ban white sugar from your houseOnelove Nefertiti

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